MONROE - A former Belleville man pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault after he had sexual contact with a teenage girl in 2014.
Matthew Christen, 25, Oregon, had two felony charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child reduced to misdemeanor fourth-degree charges at a plea hearing Monday. He also pleaded guilty to an additional felony charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Christen was charged in March of this year after Department of Justice investigators discovered sexually explicit correspondence between him and a Belleville teen dating from autumn of 2014. The teen eventually said the two had sexual contact multiple times between October and November of that year.
As part of Christen's plea agreement, prosecuting attorney Shelly Rusch recommended that Christen not be required to register as a sex offender, citing his age at the time of the incidents. In addition, Rusch recommended Christen's sentencing be withheld and that he be placed on probation.
Green County Circuit Judge Thomas Vale ordered a pre-sentencing investigation be carried out to determine an appropriate sentence for Christen. The results of that investigation will be determined at a sentencing hearing on Dec. 12.
Matthew Christen, 25, Oregon, had two felony charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child reduced to misdemeanor fourth-degree charges at a plea hearing Monday. He also pleaded guilty to an additional felony charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Christen was charged in March of this year after Department of Justice investigators discovered sexually explicit correspondence between him and a Belleville teen dating from autumn of 2014. The teen eventually said the two had sexual contact multiple times between October and November of that year.
As part of Christen's plea agreement, prosecuting attorney Shelly Rusch recommended that Christen not be required to register as a sex offender, citing his age at the time of the incidents. In addition, Rusch recommended Christen's sentencing be withheld and that he be placed on probation.
Green County Circuit Judge Thomas Vale ordered a pre-sentencing investigation be carried out to determine an appropriate sentence for Christen. The results of that investigation will be determined at a sentencing hearing on Dec. 12.